Chen Yuan had no idea what the two sisters had discussed last night. He didn’t realize that his every action had already been completely dissected.
Women are terrifying creatures.
Especially when it comes to matters of the heart.
One is terrifying enough, let alone two of them working together.
They had gone over every single clue Chen Yuan had revealed in their lives. After Jiangg Ning’s performance, her questions were simply meant to make him admit it in his own words.
The two sisters shared the same question: they couldn’t understand why Chen Yuan would do such a thing.
Even though Jiangg Yao had her suspicions, she wasn’t willing to reveal them to her sister without confirmation.
Now, Chen Yuan was undoubtedly in the most dangerous situation imaginable. He had personally planted a powerful bomb and then personally detonated it. Everything had happened too fast, leaving no time to prepare.
He was completely caught off guard. Just like with Jiangg Yao, who was now storming over, brimming with rage, Chen Yuan had no way of predicting what she would do. He didn’t realize what was happening until his ear was seized again. He could only straighten his back to ease the pain, unable to even beg for mercy.
"I really want to hear your explanation. Why did you lie to me? Give me a reason. Was all that talk about choosing me just a lie to make me happy? Did you really have the heart to deceive me?"
"I don’t know what you were thinking! You didn’t do what you promised me, so why did you promise in the first place? Did I force you? Did I pressure you like she did?"
What was stunning was that Jiangg Yao had opened fire indiscriminately.
Her aim wasn’t just on Chen Yuan; she didn’t spare Jiangg Ning either.
Her hoarse, crying voice, combined with the fact that she looked ready to explode, was not as terrifying as Jiangg Ning had been just moments ago, but in Chen Yuan’s eyes, it was a different kind of disaster.
If he had to describe the difference, it would be the difference between a tsunami and a volcanic eruption.
"Did I not give you time? Haven’t I been waiting for you, enduring everything? And this is how you treat me? If my sister hadn’t seen the watch you gave me, I’d still be completely in the dark. I trusted you so much, without a single shred of doubt. Chen Yuan, say something!"
"Tell me, was everything I’ve done for you a complete waste?"
"Because I love you, I deserve this, is that it? Why would you give her up to choose me? How am I worse than her? Is it because I gave the most that I’m cheap? Is that how it works?"
She fired off questions without a moment’s pause, giving Chen Yuan no time to explain. It was clear she had been bottling up her rage on the way over.
Compared to Jiangg Ning, Jiangg Yao’s accusations felt even more oppressive and painful.
Tears streamed down her face, carrying an unspeakable sense of grievance. Large teardrops rolled down the smooth line of her jaw, soaking the collar of her shirt in moments.
It was impossible to describe her pain and helplessness at that moment.
Jiangg Yao’s heart was bleeding.
Every one of these questions was something she truly, desperately wanted to ask.
"Alright, you should calm down too, Yaoyao," Jiangg Ning interjected, trying to de-escalate.
Seeing Yaoyao’s outburst, it was as if she was seeing a reflection of herself from moments before.
She felt the same pain through her.
"Shut up! I’m not dealing with you yet, so you just stay put and keep quiet!"
To Chen Yuan and Jiangg Ning’s surprise, Jiangg Yao pointed at her sister and started yelling.
"So what we agreed on before doesn’t count? Then what was the point of anything you said? Always so two-faced. I’ve really seen your true colors now. Don’t think I didn’t hear you two arguing just now. Tell me, why’d you have to blow everything up ahead of schedule?"
"What did I do?" Jiangg Ning knew she was in the wrong, but being suddenly yelled at like this made her angry too, so she stubbornly retorted.
"You planned this yesterday, didn’t you? No wonder you insisted on coming first. So this was your little scheme," Jiangg Yao said, a scornful smile touching her lips. "Who said you don’t play games? You’re clearly better at it than anyone."
"It wasn’t on purpose."
"Heh heh, there you go again, with your act. Putting on that little act again. You think no one can see through it? How amusing."
Jiangg Yao had unwittingly diverted some of the attention from Chen Yuan. However, before he could feel relieved, her gaze snapped back to him, and her anger flared up once more.
She walked right up and started pummeling Chen Yuan, her fists landing on his shoulders.
"I told you to talk! Are you mute now? You seemed to have plenty to say to my sister just now, didn’t you?"
"You don’t deserve this, and your love isn’t cheap, Yaoyao. You know I’m not that kind of person. I have my reasons for doing all this... Besides, how did you know what I said just now?" At this point, Chen Yuan wasn’t as afraid anymore.
Jiangg Yao put much less pressure on him.
"I heard it on the call. My sister was on the phone with me just now... Wait, is that the point?! You’re still being stubborn even now?"
"I was almost done questioning him. Who asked you to barge in?" Jiangg Ning cut in coldly, her expression one of extreme displeasure.
"If I hadn’t come, who knows what you would’ve done? You vicious, black-hearted woman."
"Who are you calling vicious?!"
"I’m calling you vicious, what about it?" Jiangg Yao’s eyes widened. She showed no fear toward her sister, looking as if she was ready to roll up her sleeves and start a fight right then and there.
"If it weren’t for me, you’d still be getting foolishly deceived. The least you could do is be grateful, not barge in here and make a mess of things!"
"Me getting deceived is my business! What does it have to do with a violent liar like you? Did I ask for your help? You talk a big game, but that’s just because you’re stupid too. I hate that holier-than-thou act you always put on."
"Fine, fine. To be honest, I hate how you’re always calling him ’Master’ this and ’Master’ that. It makes me sick. You’re a grown woman, how can you be so childish? Do you really think you’re a sixteen-year-old girl? Hey, big sister, take a look in the mirror. You’re twenty-six. And those little leather shoes with the over-the-knee socks... it’s hilarious. Trying to look young and innocent, are we?"
"Jiangg Ning, you’re asking for a slap! You think I’m a pushover!?"
"Who’s afraid of you?!"
The words had barely left her mouth when Jiangg Yao lunged at Jiangg Ning like a tiger pouncing on its prey. Her movements were incredibly swift, and she instantly knocked the unprepared Jiangg Ning onto the sofa, grabbing a handful of her hair.
"I’ll teach you to insult me!" Jiangg Yao yelled as she grappled with her.
Her initial assault was ferocious, but she lacked staying power. At first glance, she seemed vicious.
However, a few seconds later, Jiangg Ning seized an opportunity, flipped her over onto the carpet, and scrambled on top, pinning her firmly underneath. One hand pressed down on Jiangg Yao’s face while the other locked her arms.
"You’re always the one causing trouble! I haven’t even settled the score with you, and you have the nerve to attack me? Do you think I’m Chen Yuan? You think I’ll just let you win?"
In the blink of an eye, the two sisters were fighting.
Chen Yuan watched from the side, completely dumbfounded.
This was Jiangg Ning and Jiangg Yao with no regard for their image, no restraint whatsoever. The brawling was brutally real, far more varied and vicious than any women’s match in a fighting ring.
He was no longer kneeling. Instead, he sat down on the floor and stared blankly for a good while.
「In that brief time.」
Chen Yuan thought about everything he had done since making his decision.
’The past, the present, the future.’
’The life he longed for, the humiliating predicament of being questioned just now, the price required to achieve that dream.’
’Was it right or wrong?’
’Was this all just his own stubborn willfulness?’
All of it surfaced amidst the sound of their insults as they attacked each other, flashing before his eyes, scene by scene.